Thank you so much to those of you who have left notes and asked about how we were doing. I haven’t had a chance to answer properly this week but it has been a good week still and one which I trust will lay the foundation for smoother ones to come.

Recently we have seen the culmination of a series of challenges. It seems this happens every so often in a large and growing family. Suddenly nothing ‘fits’ well anymore. The recipes that used to guarantee leftovers now are consumed at dinner. (or don’t stretch through the meal) Pots and pans seem too small. A schedule that began comfortably now taxes. Appliances expire. Sometimes (don’t I know it!) even the actual clothes are no longer the right size. Adjustments must be made. That is what this week was about.

I am not the first person to puzzle over Mt 11:30

For My yoke is easy, the burden light.

There are times, such as we have found ourselves upon, that do not seem easy nor light. They become oppressive and heavy. In those times we remind ourselves that His promise has not been revoked. It is we who have picked up other baggage along the way. In those times we have to stop a moment, assess our load, and determine which of our burdens are truly from Him and which are of our own choosing.

I am a firm believer that we are always assured of the grace to do His will, but not necessarily a smidge more than that. In fact, it seems that increasingly there is no wiggle room in that regard. Though there are many more things we would “like” to do they are simply not possible right now. For that reason, this week my husband and I sat down and sorted the baggage. We talked about what our current realities are, what our goals are, and which things in our lives were helping and which were hindering. It can be tempting to assure yourself that everything is necessary, everything helping, but that is rarely the case. Coming to the task with an open mind and a willing heart can net innumerable blessings.

Our current reality is that the travel portion of Allen’s job is still a constant. That means there are things we used to take for granted that he could fix and attend to that now ought to be managed in other ways to help ease his burden. It is necessary to maintain our property. It is not necessary that he physically do every job. We can delegate some of it so that he can instead enjoy the children on his off time. For that reason, when we went to the store to pick out new kitchen appliances (insert chorus of praise and thanksgiving!!) we opted for the installation package. Yes, he knows how to wire. Yes, he could haul off the old stuff in his truck. No, that is not the best use of his limited time – right now. Likewise we have had a contractor by to bid on some of the larger work that has been stacking up around the house. It was a huge thing for Allen but a wonderfully good move which promises to bless our family in many ways.

We took a good look at our livestock. Which do we most enjoy? Which are a source of frustration or extra work? We like our goats, we like the horses, we would even like more of the latter. The calf is not likely a cost effective investment. Our neighbors sell grass fed beef as cheaply as we can process it ourselves. So the calf is sold to cover to the appliances which DO contribute to our well-being in irreplaceable ways – right now.

The goat herd is a tremendous source of pleasure for me. But the business portion of it, not so much. We are discerning what a comfortable herd size is – one that will provide for our family but not burden us with work for which the benefits are scanty.

Asher got his license this week. Woo hoo! Well sorta. It meant he could take Colin to a concert they had been waiting for and no one had to drive them in and out. It meant Alannah could attend teen night in town again with the local homeschoolers. It also meant his father watching the clock and scanning the long dirt road for signs of their return, listening to the traffic report to reassure himself that his children were ok. That part will get better though and we will be able to enjoy the extra driver. However, it means that Asher is gone more with a new job and some of his chores need to be reassigned to other kids.

These things are some of the challenges that needed to be reworked or eliminated entirely. Goals include more travel. We have always been a well-travelled bunch. Increasingly Allen is traveling alone or with a child or two. Part of that is the reality that is ten kids. Part is because we have made lifestyle choices that did not include planning expressly to make couple or group travel possible. We realize how much we miss that and are making the necessary tweaks so that can happen more often.

Another immediate goal is school. I want to enjoy the year. I want to enjoy these children who will only be this size this one year. To that end I am once more dumping an enormous amount of stuff that had originally been saved when purging. Looking at it all again in this light I realized that no, these are not appropriate burdens to maintain. I don’t love this stuff. I don’t want to spend my time moving it, cleaning it, etc. They go. I am after the beauty of the few. Minimalist surroundings for maximum living.

There are some other big decisions in the works and if you are the praying sort I would most appreciate you keeping those intentions in prayer at the moment. We will know in time if these are our ideas or God’s and we will adjust again accordingly. Meantime, we are grateful for the lightening of the load. The yoke does seem sweeter today.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.”